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06 February, 2011

A Vintage Book Bundle with Antique Paris Postcards for You!

I am really excited about my latest project! I have had it stewing around in my brain for quite a while but couldn’t find exactly what I had in mind…until yesterday! Woo hoo!

I am probably the last one in Blogland to try my hand at these vintage book bundles featured at Restoration Hardware. I have seen so many examples of them on your lovely blogs, but it wasn’t until I wandered into one of my favorite antique stores that I found what I had been looking for…

…some really old books at a very reasonable price! I paid about $4 for the three books, one of which dates back to 1910. I am thrilled! However, our co-host Baby Kitty seems more interested in my neighbor and her oh-so-frenchy standard poodle who are out for a walk!

Now I have to preface this by saying that 34 years of teaching school and constantly telling my students to take care of their books made this part a little difficult for me! However, I purposely chose books that were already in really bad shape. And…gasp!…you can see that one of them was an old library book...but I pressed on anyway!

I simply ripped the (already dangling) covers off to expose the spine, then I added some jute twine and tucked in a wonderful antique Paris postcard and voilà! Which brings me to another subject…

Just look at what else I found waiting for me in a dark little back room…five antique Paris postcards in pristine condition for…get ready for it…$5.00! That's $1.00 each! Oh, jubilation! These are the real deal dating from around 1900! I found one of them listed on eBay with a postmark of 1908 and priced at about $10. Woo hoo! I think they may have still been there because they do not depict the more widely known Parisian monuments, but my absolute favorite was among them, so I jumped at the chance to buy them!

I scanned them in so you could get a better look. Isn’t this fabulous? Warning, warning…I feel the French teacher in me coming out! lol This one is ofLa Madeleine, a Neo-classical style church commissioned by Napoleon in 1806. Look at the wonderful wide street…and not a car in sight!

I love this one! Do you see the couple in the little boat? Can you say Renoir? She has a parasol and I am willing to bet he is wearing a straw boating hat! How romantic! This is the lake at the Bois de Boulogne.

The church of Saint Etienne-du-Mont houses the remains of Saint Geneviève, whose prayers saved Paris from an attack by Attila the Hun in 451. Amazing, huh? Love that unusual façade!

This postcard depicts the Place de la Bastille where the infamous Bastille prison of French Revolution fame once stood. It's no longer there, its destruction beginning the day after it was stormed! Thiscolumn was eventually built in its place, commemorating another revolution…the Revolution of 1830. I love seeing the Parisians in their turn-of-the century garb!

And finally, my favorite…la Sainte-Chapelle…the chapel in the palace of Louis IX who built it to house the sacred relics he brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades! If I could only take you to see ONE place in Paris, this would be it! There you will find the most breathtaking stained glass windows I have ever seen in a little jewel of gothic architecture! Sigh! (Click here for virtual tour. Be sure to click on full screen! Amazing!) And…look at that fancy carriage and the little dog out for a stroll!

And…here is how the back of each of the cards looks. None of them have ever been used. Cool, huh? I have not put watermarks on any of these photos in case you want to copy them and find some crafty use for them! If you do, please come back and tell me so I can come see!

104 comments:

Love your classical "vignette with cat"...this one may go down in history!!! :-) The postcards are amazing and I think some great crafts will be presented using them...btw...love the books...like you, I just can't seem to do it...it just goes against everything I've always been taught...but I'll enjoy everyone's photos!!! Have a beautiful day!!!

Love the "vignette with cat" - my favorite tee hee. The postcards are amazing. I've found some really neat old postcards depicting Texas at the turn of the century - Chris uses them in his still life photos and they are so much fun. I love the look of your book stack, but I just don't know if I could bring myself to do it. Maybe I can find some that already have the covers torn off :) Kat

Oh Deb the postcards are such a treasure, How lucky they are for you to have found them, now they have a wonderful caretaker. That is unreal that you found those. I think they were waiting for YOU!!! Kathysue

The postcards are a treasure and you are so right about Sainte-Chapelle! It's like being inside a jewel box.

When I was in 5th grade, my reading teacher was a collector of postcards and when we finished our reading assignments, our reward was to be able to enjoy her postcards (isn't it funny now that food and stickers are the reward)! This special treat inspired me to collect postcards and it won't be long that mine will be considered vintage!!!

Debra, love it... I have so many old books and post cards from my Mother and when I say old I mean old....it's so nice to have them to decorate with how ever knew they would come it handy...Happy Sunday

Debbie, I think you may need to amend the name of your blog. Perhaps a add a footnote as to the amazing jewels you create for your home. With each new project I find myself wishing for just a fraction of your energy. The books and the postcards are winners! Love the vignette with cat. That's priceless!Enjoy your week. Thanks for sharing your latest creative endeavor. ~ Sarah

Deb I love the book bundles and I'm glad to hear you had a hard time ripping off the covers....I haven't been able to do that yet. Love , Love, Love the postcards. I think I will try to print and do something with them...I will let you know.

Debbie,Oh the librarian (of ten years) in me cringed when I saw the missing covers. . .sorry! But I know that you are enjoying these precious treasures and I will survive! HA! What a find on those postcards! ! ! I usually can find postcards, but all have written correspondence on the back. Lucky lady!Kitty and Maurice are almost twins. Maurice does have a white tip on her tail and a black smudge on her nose! Adored the Cat in the Vignette photo! Thanks for this amazing post!Fondly,Pat

Hi Debbie! You're just amazing! You should have a shop showcasing all of your most gorgeous things you make! This is so pretty! I love kitty sitting up there and helping with the vignette.Be a sweetie,Shelia ;)

Those postcards are outstanding. I've collected some of my hometown, but I never thought to look for some European ones. Now I see a new collection in my future. I also love that cat. He looks like my beloved Spunky who died in December at the age of 18.

I really love this post & using local postcards is such a fantastic idea. I will confess that i purchased a book collection like yours....& will change out the card on the top...right now it's a vintage valentine decor photo....but so easy to change the postcard a great idea! xoox

What fabulous finds! Thanks for scanning the postcards and allowing us crafters to use them. I love postcards and my world-traveling sister has been sending us postcards from all over. Her latest ones are from Patagonia.

Oh what a wonderful post! I too look at the photos and think of how it would feel to stroll with a parasol along such beautiful areas! What a elegant time for some. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy usage of your prints!! Now about those precious kitties...love them! Later,Lori

Hi Debbie, thanks for stopping by to see the Shades of Green. With snow in the forecast once again, it's going to be a while before we see any outside. lol.. I love your old books and postcards. Gotta tell ya, I still haven't done this. Just can't bring myself to take a book apart...maybe I'll break over...I love the look. hugs ~lynne~

Like it? Are you kidding?! It's..perfection! I love it. Black and white cats are my favorites (I miss mine terribly!) and the entire thing is just wonderful...Especially the BACK of kitty! Made me grin! So tells what cats are like! Hugs,Mona

Well, if you can tear up a book...maybe I can too. I love this look and I keep thinking about trying it for my coffee table, but I've been so hesitant to buy books and destroy them. I'm going to start looking for already destroyed copies! Your postcards are wonderful!

Hi Debbie, I have never been SO excited over anything French until I met you! Truly! You are so inspiring. What a thrill it must have been for you to find those awesome post cards! I did love reading all the info you shared. Your Frenchy cat vignette is precious. Please come back to my blog and take a look at my post today. Do you perhaps have an answer to my mystery question?? Do tell!

Thank you for your sweet encouragement Debbie. This is the first I've seen of the books tied with a postcard. I've missed so much lately! I love the architecture but the couple in the boat is my favorite.

Debbie, the postcards are fabulous and thank you for sharing them with us. I am going to Paris next month and will make a point of going to the La Sainte Chapelle. Making stained glass is one of my hobbies and I always try to see beautiful windows when I am travelling.

Oh Debbie, your postcards are fabulous. I love them. It is so interesting when you tell us all about them. I love to hear your stories. Your books looks fabulous too and your little "cat" vignette is wonderful. You are so clever. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

Can't believe the steal of a deal you got for those postcards - wow!! Lucky you! Your project turned out fabulous...know what you mean about ripping apart book covers :) but this project was worth it - love it!!

Thanks for the tour de Paris....we are leaving in <30 days....I hope to see some of those sights! I haven't the nerve yet to remove the covers off my old books...maybe I just need some torn up ones! Nice post! The music got a hilarious look from my family as it played!

Wow, Debbie ~ what great finds! That postcard added to the book bundles is just fantastic! I tore apart some books found at GW this fall (which was very difficult for me because I am the daughter of a librarian!), but once they were bundled, I just adored the look! :)

Debbie! You are brilliant! I kept googling the company name of my porcelain kitty but could never find anything about a cork or sand. Thank you so much for the hummel site and the suggestion about the hole being drilled to release gas. It does makes sense so I'm sure that's it. I'm still a bit mystified about the cork and sand though. Thanks for your help!!

I am an art teacher from Houston and enjoy keeping up with your cute little frenchy blog! I just read about your upcoming trip to France with your grandson and your plans to go to Giverney.Just had to make sure he has read the children's book "Linnea in Monet's Garden." It is the precious story of a little girl who visits Monet's garden and the pink house. Great intro to Monet's art. Have a great trip!

Debbie, your project turned out great! I cannot believe you just happened upon those wonderful vintage post cards when you were contemplating this project! I feel like an idiot, because in years past, I have thrown away books that look the way your books look now! Sure wish I still had them, but I guess I'll find some books I can tear up! laurie

Oohhhh you lucky ducky finding those postcards!! They are fab!! And thank you for sharing them. I'm saving a picture or two *winks* I'll let you know if I manage to create anything *winks* Love the books in twine too! Vanna

Ohhh...what a treasure find, my friend! Your vintage Paris postcards are magnificent! I just swooned as I looked through each of them! I absolutely adore your vignettes with the old twined books and the sweet little Paris postcards! Sooo pretty, my friend! Thank you for sharing the postcard images with us...as well as your beautiful vignettes!

This is so lovely. I love what you did with that last photo too. It looks like a painting, lovely! I always wanted to know how to do this. Thank you for the tutorial and showing all of those lovely postcards.

I love books with no covers! I have several totes of them on the truck that I use for display! I started using them about five years ago! Funny people would always say to me why did you take the covers off! lol! Now everyone is doing it!Theresaaka:tot

Oooh, la,la! Your Parisian postcards are tres magnifique! What a treasure (and a great bargain, too!). I have been inside of St. Chappelle, and it is gorgeous, isn't it? Love the vignette with your sweet kitty, and the book stack looks terrific! Au revoir!

What a lovely post from beginning to end! Well, except for the part about ripping covers off books. If I ever try that, I might have to steady my nerves with a glass (or three) of French wine! Still, I love the results you achieved. ;)

The postcards are fantastic (I fought the urge to put "que!" rather than "tic")! I'm so glad you found them and at such a wonderful price -- meant to be I think!

I absolutley LOVE this!!!! I love the postcards and I did copy them in hopes of creating a project with them. Thank you for your kindness. I invite you to link up at my place for Thrifty Thursday....bc that is a bargain!

Hi Debbie,That is so cool!I just love vignette with Cat, how frenchy is that!Those old postcards are amazing, what a deal!And thanks for the Grandma advise!I think I may become a once a week poster myself. It takes a lot of work to do a good one like this!Hugs,Cindy

I love the book bundles & the post cards are awesome. I want to do the book bundles & wrapped books, but I'm struggling. I am taking small steps. My first step, and it was difficult for me, was to remove paper book covers from some of our regular books. I hate when they get all torn, but my mind kept saying they were there to protect the book. Who knew how pretty some of the ordinary books we have around here were without the covers. The next step will be purchasing a cheap book and removing the hardcover -- oh, that will be difficult. Glad there are gifted bloggers like yourself to lead the way!CAS

I SOOO understand the part about ripping up the books. I have TONs of old books but I haven't been able to tear one up. I think for now I'm just going to group them with a pretty ribbon tied around them. Maybe I'll find some trashy ones at a garage sale this spring in a subject I don't care for! :-)

Oh, I loved reading about your knowledge of the history of these places on the postcards. Very interesting. I agree with you I would love to see the one with the holy relics. Just wonderful! Thanks for joining me!Sherry

Good lord girl I had to take a No-Doz to get to the comment place here ha ha!!Anyhoo..I have seen these books all over blogland and bet it was hard for you to ripped them apart ha ha!! when do you leave for your Paris trip girl is it not soon now..I always enjoy all my visits here Debbie you have so much talent my friend..If I had just have of what your energy is I would also have a no dust house ha ha!! Love ya girl..Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

such a great idea! i havent had any luck yet to find old books that are worn enough in my local area, i'm still searching and i do love the paris post cards and such a great buy too! i can see the couple on the boat in one of the postcard, how i long to go to paris again! beautiful cat you got there and love the classic vignette with cat, happy feathered nest friday!

Absolutely love those book bundles!! I have bundled books, but with the covers on yet... I know what you mean about tearing them off! I think yours are darling and I just love that vignette with your kitty!! Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

WOW! I love your blog!!I'm here from the Sunday Showcase Party, and your books and postcards are amazing!! I have a bunch of American postcards that were my great grandmothers. Some are cards that were sent to her, and it is amazing to read them!!

Though the Vintage Postcards are lovely... I'm particularly impressed of your vignette with Cat card! Love it!!! What program do you use to give such amazing texture to your photos? I'm just now learning to photoshop my images and gladly welcome tips from those who have more experience at it.

Hi Debbie, I am a new follower of your blog, I just love it! You are always so positive and have the most interesting things to say. I must also admit that I am quite envious of your thrift store talent, you find the BEST bargains. Thanks for writing a lovely blog...

I think I found you from Thrifty Decor Chick- and I have not done the book bundles because I couldn't bring myself to rip the covers off! :) I'm encouraged now! :) And is that Lomonosov at the top of your header? (we're in Ukraine)

I just wanted to say thanks SO much for leaving the vintage postcards unmarked, I've downloaded them and plan to use them in my bathroom which has a Paris. I've been looking for something special to use that wasn't the well known landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe etc, and these will be perfect. Now I just have to find the time to do something with them.

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